MANILA, Philippines – A sealed green box has traveled from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to the House of Representatives, on to the Senate, and then back to the BIR without anyone opening it.
Inside are the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and businesses and individuals linked to them.
House prosecutors believe the documents could help determine whether the couple’s reported income is commensurate with their assets and wealth. That question is central to the second article of impeachment, which accuses Duterte of accumulating wealth disproportionate to her lawful income and failing to disclose assets, liabilities, and business interests properly.
However, Philippine tax secrecy laws make it exceedingly difficult to obtain and disclose records, even when they may be relevant to allegations of corruption involving one of the country’s highest officials.The BIR first submitted the box to the House justice committee in April, complying with a subpoena issued during its impeachment inquiry. However, BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza warned lawmakers that opening the records publicly could expose revenue officials to criminal liability.
The House ultimately voted to keep the box sealed and included it in the impeachment records transmitted to the Senate.
